Temporary Support Bracket

ABSTRACT

A bracket ( 401 ) provides temporary support for a plasterboard while said plasterboard is attached to ceiling joists ( 103,104 ). A first limb ( 402 ) is secured to a first ceiling joist. A plasterboard ( 201 ) is located upon an upper surface of the second limb, in which said second limb extends from said first limb via an angled portion ( 403 ). An opposite end of the ceiling board is secured to a second ceiling joist.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from United Kingdom patentapplication 10 12 448.5, filed Jul. 26, 2010, the whole contents ofwhich are included herein by way of reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a temporary support bracket to assistin the process of attaching boards to ceiling joists. The present oinvention also relates to a method of fabricating a temporary supportbracket to assist in the process of attaching boards to ceiling joists.The present invention also relates to a method of providing temporarysupport for a board, while attaching said board to ceiling joists.

2. Description of the Related Art

A jig for lifting plasterboard is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,996,which comprises three telescopic members that are supported by a frameand are individually adjustable to elevate a rack to a selected angularrelationship. The jig represents a substantial piece of equipment andmay be deployed in situations where manual fitting would not bepossible. However, in many applications, it is possible for a board tobe supported by one individual but the actual fixing to ceiling joistsbecomes difficult if assistance is not available.

In situations of this type, it is also known to deploy poles orsupports, but problems may exist in relation to providing adjustment fordifferent ceiling heights and, for a substantial investment in terms ofequipment, the degree of support is somewhat limited.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided atemporary support bracket to assist in a process of attaching boards toceiling joists, comprising: a first limb for securing to a ceilingjoist; an angled portion extending from said limb; and a second limbextending from said angled portion, wherein said second limb isconfigured to support a ceiling board after said first limb has beensecured to a ceiling joist.

In an embodiment, the first limb includes a hole and is securable to aceiling joist by means of a screw.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of fabricating a temporary support bracket to assist in aprocess of attaching boards to ceiling joists, comprising the steps of:cutting a blank from sheet metal; and bending said blank to define afirst limb for securing to a ceiling joist, an angled portion extendingfrom said first limb and a second limb extending from said angledportion, wherein said second limb is configured to support a ceilingboard after said first limb has been secured to a ceiling joist. In anembodiment, the blank is fabricated from stainless steel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of providing temporary support for a board, while attachingsaid board to a ceiling joist, comprising the steps of: securing a firstlimb of a support bracket to a first ceiling joist; locating a boardupon an upper surface of a second limb, in which said second limbextends from said first limb via an angled portion; and securing anopposite end of said board to a second ceiling joist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a ceiling with joists;

FIG. 2 illustrates the attachment of a ceiling board to the joistidentified in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship between adjacent boards;

FIG. 4 illustrates a temporary support bracket embodying an aspect ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a method of fabricating the support bracketidentified in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates the attachment of the bracket of FIG. 4 to a joist;

FIG. 7 shows the securing of the bracket identified in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows the secured bracket of FIG. 7 supporting a board;

FIG. 9 illustrates the permanent attachment of the opposite end of theboard identified in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 illustrates the further permanent attachment of the board shownin FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows the removal of the support bracket; and

FIG. 12 shows a board attached to joists after the removal of thebracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1

A ceiling 101 is shown in FIG. 1, to which boards are to be secured inorder to provide a finished ceiling surface. The boards will be attachedto joists, of which joist 102, joist 103, joist 104 and joist 105 areshown in FIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment, joists 102 to 105 arefabricated in wood. Furthermore, in an embodiment, boards to be attachedto these joists are plasterboards, although other types of boards couldbe deployed, such as plywood or plastic etc. The boards may be securedto the joists by means of screws or nails as is known in the art.

FIG. 2

As shown in FIG. 2, a first board 201 and a second board 202 have beensecured between a first left joist 103 and a second right joist 104.Joist 103 may be considered to have a primary surface 203. With respectto board 202, joist 103 has an internal surface 204 and an externalsurface 205.

From the perspective of the joist 103, the external surface 205 may beconsidered as a left vertical surface and the internal surface 204 maybe considered as a right vertical surface.

FIG. 3

The active surface 203 of joist 103 is illustrated in FIG. 3.Furthermore, board 202 is shown in position, abutting against a board301 located between joist 102 and joist 103. As is known in the art, itis preferable for the line of abutment between boards 202 and 301 to liesubstantially centrally along the active surface 203 of joist 103. Thus,when locating a first board, it should be positioned substantiallycentrally, thereby providing a substantially equal space for theabutting board on the other side.

Furthermore, as is known in the art, when located, the boards are heldin place by securing elements 302, such as plasterboard screws. It cantherefore be seen that if a first board is aligned incorrectly, thiswill have knock-on effects in terms of its relationship with cooperatingboards. Thus, in many applications, it is theoretically possible for theboards to be assembled by a single operative but in practice, this canbe quite difficult and may lead to a misalignment. Furthermore, withoutappropriate mechanical assistance, health and safety constraints maydemand that the boarding of ceilings as described with respect to FIGS.1, 2 and 3 requires the deployment of at least two operatives.

FIG. 4

A temporary support bracket 401 is illustrated in FIG. 4, configured toassist in a process of attaching boards (201, 202) to ceiling joists(103, 104). A First limb 402 is provided for securing to a ceilingjoist. An angled portion 403 extends from the first limb 402. A secondlimb 404 extends from the angled portion 403. The second limb 404 isconfigured to support a ceiling board after said first limb has beensecured to a ceiling joist.

In preferred applications, the ceiling boards are plasterboards and theceiling joists may be constructed from wood/timber.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the first limb 402 includes a hole 405, soas to allow the support bracket 401 to be secured to a ceiling joist bymeans of a screw or similar attachment.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the support bracket consisting of the firstlimb 402, the angled portion 403 and the second limb 404 are fabricatedfrom a single metal piece and the required shape may be obtained by abending process. In an embodiment, the bending process is performed upona piece of stainless steel sheet.

In an alternative embodiment, the support bracket consisting of thefirst limb, the angled portion and the second limb are moulded from aplastics material.

FIG. 5

A method for the fabrication of a temporary support bracket to assist inthe process of attaching boards to ceiling joists is illustrated in FIG.5. Sheet material 501 is supplied to a cutting process 502. The cuttingprocess 502 cuts blanks 503 from the sheet metal 501.

A bending process 504 bends the blanks 503 to produce the supportbrackets (as shown in FIG. 4) which are in turn supplied to a packagingprocess 505. The bending process 504 bends each blank 503 to define afirst limb for securing to a ceiling joist, an angled portion extendingfrom said first limb and a second limb extending from said angledportion. The second limb is configured to support a ceiling board aftersaid first limb has been secured to a ceiling joist.

In an embodiment, the metal sheet material 501 is stainless steel andstainless steel blanks 503 are cut from said sheet material 501.

In an embodiment, a hole is formed in the first limb to facilitate theattachment to a joist. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, thecutting process 502 is performed by laser cutting or water jet cutting.

After distribution and removal from packaging, the temporary supportbracket, as shown in FIG. 4, is ready for providing temporary supportfor a board, while attaching said board to a ceiling joist.

FIG. 6

In order to perform the method of providing temporary support for aboard, while attaching said board to a ceiling joist, the first limb 402is located against a first vertical surface 204 of a first (left)ceiling joist 103. The angled portion 403 also abuts against the activesurface 203 of the ceiling joist 103.

FIG. 7

The angled portion 403 includes a substantially horizontal section 701and a substantially vertical section 702. In this way, the angledportion 403 abuts closely against an edge 703 defined by verticalsurface 204 and active surface 203. With the support bracket located inplace, the first limb 402 of the support bracket is secured to the firstceiling joist 103. In this example, the support bracket is secured bythe application of a screw 704 through hole 405 and into the joist 103.Alternatively, if access is limited, it is possible for the bracket tobe secured by an alternative hole (shown as 406 in FIG. 4), located inthe substantially horizontal portion 701.

FIG. 8

Having secured the first limb of the support bracket to a first ceilingjoist, a board, such as board 201, is located upon an upper surface 801of the second limb 404.

FIG. 9

With the board 201 located upon an upper surface of the second limb, theopposite end 901 of board 201 is secured to a second ceiling joist 104.Thus, following this step, the opposite end 901 of the board 201 hasbeen secured to ceiling joist 103 in a substantially conventionalmanner.

FIG. 10

Having secured the opposite end 901 in a substantially conventionalmanner, an operative returns to the supported end of board 201. This isagain secured in a substantially conventional manner, by means ofplasterboard screws, such as screw 1001. Thus, having completed thisprocess, the board is now secure.

FIG. 11

Having secured the board 201, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the temporarysupport bracket 401 is removed and having been removed, it is now readyto be deployed upon the next board, such as board 202.

FIG. 12

Having removed the temporary support bracket, as illustrated in FIG. 11,the board 201 is now held in place between joist 103 and 104. Thesupport bracket 401 may be deployed for the next operation. Furthermorethe deployment may be achieved safely using a single operative and thepreferred alignment of the boards is retained; as illustrated in FIG. 3.

1. A temporary support bracket to assist in a process of attachingboards to ceiling joists, comprising: a first limb for securing to afirst vertical surface of a ceiling joist; an angled portion extendingfrom said first limb, said angled portion including a substantiallyhorizontal section and a substantially vertical section; and a secondlimb extending from said angled portion, said second limb comprising asubstantially horizontal first portion whereby said first portion issubstantially perpendicular to said first limb, said second limb furthercomprising a downward sloping second portion; wherein an upper surfaceof said first portion of said second limb is configured to support aceiling board and said substantially horizontal section of said angledportion abuts against an active surface of a ceiling joist after saidfirst limb has been secured to said ceiling joist.
 2. The supportbracket of claim 1, wherein said boards are plaster-boards.
 3. Thesupport bracket of claim 1, wherein said ceiling joists are constructedfrom timber.
 4. The support bracket of claim 1, wherein said first limbincludes a hole and is securable to a ceiling joist by means of a screw.5. The support bracket of claim 1, wherein said first limb, said angledportion and said second limb are fabricated from a singular metal piece.6. The support bracket of claim 5, wherein said singular metal piece isproduced by a bending process.
 7. The support bracket of claim 6,wherein said bending process is performed upon a piece of stainlesssteel sheet.
 8. A method of fabricating a temporary support bracket toassist in a process of attaching boards to ceiling joists, comprisingthe steps of: cutting a blank from sheet metal; and bending said blankto define a first limb for securing to a first vertical surface of aceiling joist, an angled portion extending from said first limb and asecond limb extending from said angled portion, said angled portionincluding a substantially horizontal section and a substantiallyvertical section; and said second limb comprising a substantiallyhorizontal first portion bent such that said first portion issubstantially perpendicular to said first limb, said second limb furthercomprising a downward sloping second portion; wherein said second limbis configured to support a ceiling board and said substantiallyhorizontal section of said angled portion abuts against an activesurface of a ceiling joist after said first limb has been secured tosaid ceiling joist.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said blank is astainless steel blank.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising thestep of forming a hole in said first limb to facilitate attachment to ajoist.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein said cutting step is performedby laser or water jet.
 12. A method of providing temporary support for aboard, while attaching said board to a ceiling joist, comprising thesteps of: securing a first limb of a support bracket to a first verticalsurface of a first ceiling joist; locating a first end of a board uponan upper surface of a substantially horizontal first portion of a thesecond limb of the support bracket, in which said second limb extendsfrom said first limb via an angled portion, said angled portionincluding a substantially horizontal section and a substantiallyvertical section, and whereby said first portion is substantiallyperpendicular to said first limb, said second limb further comprising adownward sloping portion, such that said substantially horizontalsection of said angled portion abuts against an active surface of saidfirst ceiling joist; and securing an opposite second end of said boardto a second ceiling joist.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein saidboard is a plaster-board.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said firstlimb includes a hole and said step of securing said first limb to saidfirst ceiling joist comprises placing a screw through said hole andscrewing said screw into said first ceiling joist.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, wherein said first ceiling joist and said second ceiling joistare fabricated from timber.
 16. (cancelled)
 17. The method of claim 12,wherein; said board covers a right side of a left ceiling joist and aleft side of a right ceiling joist; said first limb is secured to aselected one of a left side of the left ceiling joist and a right sideof the right ceiling joist; a corresponding one of a left end and anopposite right end of a board is supported by said second limb on acorresponding one of the left ceiling joist and the right ceiling joist;the opposite one of the left end and the right end of said board issecured to the other of the left ceiling joist and the right ceilingjoist; said corresponding one of the left end of said board is securedto the corresponding one of the left ceiling joist and the right ceilingjoist; and said support bracket is removed.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein said angled portion includes a second substantially horizontalportion that extends over a portion of said selected one of the leftceiling joist and the right ceiling joist.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein the length of said second substantially horizontal portion issuch as to support the end of said board at a substantially centralposition upon the selected ceiling joist.
 20. The method of claim 19,further comprising the step of locating a screw substantially verticallythrough a hole in said second substantially horizontal portion.